Joseph l



(No Model.)

J. L. Du FOUR.

Toy Ho 0p No. 230,697. Patented Aug. 3, 1880." I

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH L. M. DU FOUR, OF BOUNDBROOK, NEW JERSEY.

TOY HOOP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 230,697, dated August 3, 1880.

. Application filed May 15, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH L. M. DU FOUR, of Boundbrook, in the county of Somerset and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hoop Toys; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in toy hoops; and it consists in connecting to the hoop. which is journaled in a suitable handle, an operating-belt, which, as the hoop revolves, turns the shaft, which is provided with knockers, and which knockers strike alternately against the bells secured in the frame, whereby as the hoop is rolled along the ground a constant ringing of the bells is kept up, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The object of my invention is to provide a frame which will steady the hoop or wheel while running along the ground, so that it can be made an object of interest to children who are too small to play with a hoop alone, and at the same time to make enough of a musical sound to cause the hoop to amuse children of larger growth.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

A represents a hoop or wheel of any desired size or construction, and which is journaled in the frame B. This frame consists of two rods which are united together at their outer ends by means of the handle 0, as shown in Fig.2.

Upon the side of the wheel or hoop are secured a number of headed tacks or projections, D, over which is passed a belt, E. This belt has inserted in it a piece of elastic, F, so that the belt can accommodate itself to the varying lengths which are necessary.

From the projections on the wheel the belt passes over a shaft, G, which is journaled in the frame B, and which has suitable shoulders formed upon it, for the purpose of keeping the belt always in place. These shoulders on the shaft and the heads of the tacks or projections (No model.)

serve to prevent the belt from running off at any time, as it would otherwise be constantly 5o liable to do.

As the distance varies between the projection over which the belt passes, and which is farthest forward, and the shaft, were it not for the piece of rubber which allows the belt to stretch the belt would be very tight in certain positions of the wheel and loose in others; but by using the rubber a uniform tension is kept upon the belt at all times, so that the shaft is made to constantly revolve while the wheel or hoop is in motion.

To opposite sides of the shaft are secured the two knockers I, which, as the shaft revolves, strike against the bells L, or other similar devices, which are loosely hung upon the cross-bar N of the frame B. These bells are loosely hung, so as to emit a pleasant ringing sound; but in case it should be desiredv that they should not ring, or should give forth but very little sound, they can be tightened against the cross-bar.

Instead of the bells which are here shown any other devices may be substituted for them, which may be operated upon or by the shaft, as this part of "my invention may be varied 7 without departing from the spirit of it.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claiml. The combination of a hoop or wheel, A, a suitable holding-frame, a belt, an operatingshaft, G, provided with knockers I, and bells L, or other musical instruments, substantially as described and shown.

2. The combination of the wheel or hoop provided with the projections on its side and a holding device with a belt having an elastic inserted in it and adapted to operate on the projections, in connection with an operatingshaft, substantially as set forth.

-In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 1st day of May, 1880.

JOSEPH L. M. DU FOUR.

Witnesses:

0. S. TITUS, M. DU FOUR. 

